am I still a hero

Long ago, in a world where the line between gods and mortals was thin, there existed four heroes, each destined to shape the fate of their kingdom. Among them stood the leader, a demigod, a being of immense strength and wisdom, revered and feared in equal measure. With his striking white hair and piercing crimson eyes, he was a figure of legend, yet he was always alone. Though he possessed unparalleled power, he never sought recognition or glory; instead, he dedicated himself to the protection of humanity.

But the mortals were not so easily swayed. They whispered of bloodshed and devastation, branding him a harbinger of chaos. Despite his countless acts of heroism, their distrust festered like an open wound. Only one soul saw past the facade, his beloved wife, who understood the gentle heart that beat beneath his godlike exterior.

For years, he fought valiantly to earn their trust, but the more he sacrificed for them, the deeper their fear grew. Each time he saved the kingdom from the demons, he felt the weight of their suspicion. If only he could comprehend the source of their distrust.

Then came the day that shattered his world. His wife fell gravely ill, stricken by a curse that drained the very life from her. In desperation, he carried her to the to best clerks over the whole city, pleading for aid, but they had turned their backs, terrified of the very being who had once defended them. His heart shattered, he could do nothing but watch as the light dimmed in her eyes.

“Promise me,” she whispered, her breath growing faint, “that you will protect the humans, no matter what.” He held her close, the rain pouring down like a torrent, mingling with his tears as her last words echoed in his mind.

Grief consumed him. He buried her beneath the ancient oak tree where they first met, a place that had once been filled with laughter and love, now tainted by sorrow. Alone in his anguish, he swore to keep his promise.

twenty years passed, and the day of reckoning arrived a war that would determine the future of humans and demons alike. A strategy was devised, one that hinged on the strength of the demigod leader. But fate had other plans. The king received word of an impending ambush and ordered the troops to return, leaving the hero unaware, abandoned.

On the day of battle, he stood alone, the only protector against an army that numbered in the thousands. Betrayed, his heart ached as he prepared to return to the capital, but it was too late. The demons struck with ferocity, and he fought valiantly, his every strike fueled by years of pent-up rage and sorrow. The battle raged on for more than a day, and when the dust settled, he stood victorious, but at a terrible cost.

Meanwhile, in the capital, a chilling realization dawned on the king’s men. They had left their strongest ally to face the enemy alone. With urgency, they rallied a force to return, but when they arrived, it was to a scene of devastation. Amidst the remnants of the camp, a figure emerged, battered and broken.

Covered in mud and blood, the hero staggered forward, his armor shattered and his body a canvas of wounds. The gates of the capital swung open to reveal a sight that would haunt them forever his scarlet eyes, once bright with determination, now darkened by despair.

“Move, human,” he rasped, his voice a low rumble as the ground trembled beneath him. The rain continued to fall, masking the blood that seeped from his wounds, a silent testament to his sacrifice.

In a final act of defiance against the pain that consumed him, he climbed to the cliff overlooking the land of Thæliora, under the ancient oak tree where he had buried his love. There, he whispered a to her grave, “Did I keep my promise, my love? my life was truly sorrowful.” As he laid beside her grave, the weight of grief closed in around him, and his spirit began to fade.

In that moment of despair, a divine presence manifested before him a goddess whose ethereal beauty radiated warmth and compassion. Her voice, soft yet powerful, reached him through the veil of darkness. “Do not be like this,” she urged. “I will grant you another chance. Live life to the fullest, or lay low in the town I will resurrect you in.”

Magic swirled around him, enveloping him in a cocoon of shimmering light. “Before you go,” the goddess continued, “do you have any last words?”

From behind her, a shadowed figure stepped forward. “Why do you make it sound like you’re going to kill him?” the man said, a smirk playing on his lips.

The hero’s gaze was distant as he whispered, “In this new life, will I see my wife again?”

The goddess smiled gently and said, “Of course" destiny will always keep you to together, just look for her and you will find her,

As the last remnants of his previous existence slipped away, the hero felt his body transforming, reshaping into something new. “what you look for is always with you” echoed in his mind as the world faded, leaving behind a glimmer of hope.

With the promise of a new beginning, he would rise once more a second chance to fulfill the vow that had bound him to life.